JP2002074202A - Information recording medium, information display, information providing device and information provision system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information recording medium, an information display, an information providing device and an information provision system to be profitable for both of a purchaser and a provider of merchandise, for example, in the case of performing purchase of the merchandise by using new icon images by which an access to an information supply source, retrieval and arrangement of information are easily performed when transmission of information is mutually performed via communication means such as a telephone line, an exclusive line, radio waves and optical communications. SOLUTION: When displayed primary related information 307 or a code information acquisition menu among pieces of secondary and later related information to be guided from the primary related information is selected, a computer is made to perform a prescribed processing, bar code information is fetched from the information providing server and the bar code information is outputted from an output means such as a printer. The bar code information printed on a sheet of outputted paper is brought to a counter of a convenience store, etc., where it is read and exchanged for the merchandise.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of transmitting information to each other via a communication means, using a new icon image which makes it easy to access an information supply source, search and organize information, For example, the present invention relates to an information recording medium, an information display device, an information providing device, and an information providing system that are convenient for performing a purchase procedure of a product (including a service).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the spread of the Internet, the number of servers accessible from terminals connected to the Internet has become enormous. Various information is recorded on each server based on the intention of the operator.
The terminal operator can obtain necessary information by accessing each server from the terminal.
In general, in order to access information on the Internet, an operator can realize this by inputting a character string called a URL from a terminal.

Here, it is known that a terminal operator generally has a strong tendency to access specific information on a limited specific server. For this reason, a function called a so-called bookmark is known so that such information can be accessed with a small operation procedure. With the bookmark function, the specification of the information is represented by one character string or one image (icon), and the operator uses the character string or the like as a clue and selects and specifies the information.
The specified information can be accessed. According to this function, the URL is used to specify information.
Such information can be accessed more quickly than by inputting a character string such as

[0004] The above-described technology is not only implemented in a so-called personal computer, but is also widely applied to home electric appliances. In particular, an information terminal called a digital television is not only receiving a broadcast but also being connected to a network and is able to access specified information.

[0005]

However, the function of the bookmark is that one character string simply indicates the location of the information. For this reason, the processing performed via this bookmark is limited to access to the specified place, and other operations cannot be caused. Further, even if the information supplier wants to bookmark a plurality of network addresses, the viewer cannot manage the network addresses collectively.

Further, in the conventional information system, for example, when purchasing goods on the Internet, it is necessary to read a large number of sentences in the purchase procedure, and the procedure is complicated and difficult to understand. Further, in the conventional system, products purchased on the Internet are generally delivered directly to the home, which is convenient for customers in that respect. There is a disadvantage that customers have less chance to come. Also, it is considered that a specific service (considered as a kind of product) can be enjoyed at a place other than home, and in that case, a ticket for receiving the service while purchasing the specific service on the Internet. Is mailed or delivered home, which makes the shipping procedure complicated.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when transmitting information to each other via communication means such as a telephone line, a dedicated line, radio waves, and optical communication, access to an information supply source is performed. For example, when purchasing a product by using a new icon image that makes it easy to search and organize information, an information recording medium, an information display device, and information that are beneficial to both the product purchaser and the product provider It is an object to provide a providing device and an information providing system.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the information recording medium according to the present invention creates a new second management area on a display screen in addition to the first management area. Determining whether or not an icon move command to move the primary icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area has been input; Extracting the primary related information related to the primary icon image but not displayed in the first management area; and Displaying in the second management area;
Displaying the primary related information in association with the primary icon image displayed in the second management area when the predetermined condition is satisfied; and displaying the primary related information or the displayed primary related information. When a code information acquisition menu is selected from among the secondary and subsequent related information derived from the primary related information, the computer is caused to perform a predetermined process, and the information providing server is accessed via the communication unit; A second management area program for causing a computer to execute the step of taking in the code information from the information providing server and the step of outputting the code information from the output means is stored.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, an information display device according to the present invention comprises: a first management area creating means for displaying a first management area on a display screen; A second management area creating means for displaying another second management area on a display screen, and an icon moving instruction to move a primary icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area Determining means for determining whether or not the first icon image has been input, and extracting primary related information related to the primary icon image but not displayed in the first management area when the icon movement command is issued. Extracting means for displaying, in the second management area, the primary icon image for which the icon movement command has been issued,
First related information display means for displaying next related information in association with the first icon image displayed in the second management area; and displaying the first related information or the first related information. When the code information acquisition menu is selected from the second and subsequent related information called by the related information, the program causes the computer to perform a predetermined process, accesses the information providing server via the communication unit, and provides the information providing. It has code information acquisition means for taking in code information from a server, and output means for outputting the code information acquired by the code information acquisition means.

[0010] To achieve the information providing apparatus above object, the information providing apparatus of the present invention,
A step of creating a new second management area other than the first management area on the display screen; and a step of moving a primary icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area. Determining whether an icon movement command has been input; and when the icon movement command has been made, primary related information related to the primary icon image but not displayed in the first management area. Extracting
Displaying the primary icon image in which the icon movement command has been issued in the second management area; and displaying the primary related information in the second management area in a case of a predetermined condition. Displaying in association with the primary icon image, and a code information acquisition menu of the displayed primary related information or secondary and subsequent related information derived from the primary related information. When selected, causing the computer to perform predetermined processing, accessing the information providing server via the communication means, capturing code information from the information providing server, and outputting the code information from the output means. Is provided to the user via the communication means under a predetermined condition when the computer executes the second management area program for causing the computer to execute the second management area program.

[0011] For example, the predetermined condition is when a request signal is input from the client terminal to the information providing device via the communication means.

Information providing system In order to achieve the above object, a first information providing system according to the present invention converts primary data including primary icon image information including primary related information into primary data according to predetermined conditions. Primary data providing means for providing to the client terminal via the communication means; and
Of the primary related information included in the next icon image information or the secondary and subsequent icon image information called from the primary icon image information or the secondary related information called by the primary related information, When the code information acquisition menu is selected, at a predetermined location, code information including cash voucher information that can be exchanged for a specific product (hereinafter, including services unless otherwise specified) is transmitted to the client side. And code information providing means for transmitting the code information to the terminal.

[0013] The second information providing system of the present invention comprises a first information providing system.
Primary data providing means for providing primary data including primary icon image information including next related information to a client terminal via communication means in accordance with a predetermined condition; The first related information included in the primary icon image information or the secondary and subsequent icon image information called from the primary icon image information or the second called by the primary related information.
When a purchase application menu is selected from the following related information and an application signal related to the purchase application menu is received, information about an application condition input column is transmitted to the client-side terminal. And a condition storage means for storing the purchase application conditions entered at the client terminal, and an order for transmitting the application condition confirmation data stored in the condition storage means to the client terminal for confirmation. A code information providing unit configured to transmit specific code information to the client terminal when a code information acquisition menu included in the purchase confirmation icon image in the confirmation data is selected.

Preferably, the code information provided by the code information providing means is transmitted to the client terminal in a state where the code information is included in the second and subsequent icon image information.

Common Items In the present invention, it is preferable that the image information for displaying the icon image includes at least the first related information.

The means for including the related information in the image information of the icon image is not particularly limited. When the image information is a JPEG file, a GIF file, or the like, an image based on such a data structure is used. Information that does not affect the display can be described in the annotation part in the image information. Also, even with other image formats,
Any format having an information area that does not affect the display of an image can be described in the area. Also,
Related information can be added to the image information by a digital watermark (watermark) technique.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the code information is bar code information, and that the bar code information includes cash voucher information that can be exchanged for a specific product at a predetermined location. Note that the code information is not limited to bar code information, and may be other code information.

Preferably, the output means is a printer for printing a barcode. By printing a barcode with a printer and bringing it to a store such as a convenience store, the barcode can be exchanged for a product. The output means is not limited to a printer, but may be any portable memory such as a memory stick. Furthermore, a mobile device having a memory, such as a mobile phone and a mobile computer, may be used.
The code or the portable device having the memory outputs and stores the code information, and the code information is read at a store such as a convenience store or a place where the service is enjoyed to exchange the code information with a specific product or service. can do.

[0019] When the code information acquisition menu is selected, a secondary icon image related to the primary icon image may be displayed in the second management area. Preferably, the secondary icon image includes the code information. Preferably, the secondary icon image includes an output menu of the code information. The secondary icon image is not particularly limited, but is preferably, for example, an icon image indicating that a product has been purchased.

The first related information or the second and subsequent related information derived from the first related information includes a product purchase application menu. When the product purchase application menu is selected, Preferably, an order entry field data sheet screen is displayed in the first management area. By displaying the order input column data sheet screen in the first management area, detailed data of the order can be transmitted to the information providing server of the order destination.

When the order detail data is input to the order entry field data sheet screen and the order detail data is transmitted to the information providing server, order detail confirmation data is transmitted from the information providing server, and the confirmation data includes Preferably, a purchase confirmation icon image is included. By transmitting the confirmation data, the orderer of the product can confirm the order and prevent an order from being mistaken.

Preferably, the purchase confirmation icon image includes the code information acquisition menu. By operating the purchase confirmation icon image after confirming the purchased product and selecting the code information acquisition menu and obtaining the code information, after confirming the product, code information corresponding to, for example, a voucher can be obtained.

Note that, in the present invention, which icon image is the primary icon image or the secondary or subsequent icon image is a relative relationship. That is, the second and subsequent icon images can be the primary icon images in the sense that the next icon image is generated. The relationship between the primary related information and the secondary related information is also a relative relationship.

[0024] The information display device of the present invention further comprises:
The information processing apparatus may further include a detailed related information requesting unit that fetches the icon image from a providing source via a communication unit and displays the icon image in association with the first related information. In addition, more detailed third and subsequent related information related to the second related information may be displayed in a similar manner. In addition, these second
The related information after the next may be included in the icon image information in advance together with the first related information. In the present invention, the secondary and subsequent related information may be displayed near the primary related information in the second management area, or may be displayed inside the first management area.

The second management area program detects whether or not the program has already been installed on the computer, and if the second management area program has already been installed on the computer, the second management area program has already been installed. Or executing the second management area program.

In the present invention, the communication means is not particularly limited, and includes all communication means such as a telephone line, a dedicated line, radio waves, and optical communication.

In the present invention, as the icon image,
It is not particularly limited, and may be a still image or a moving image. In the present invention, the icon image may be a part of the entire image. The secondary icon image is preferably an image different from the primary icon image, but may be the same. What kind of secondary icon image is obtained
At least one of primary related information displayed in association with the primary icon image or secondary related information called by the primary related information may be selected.

[0028] The primary icon image displayed in the second management area may be replaced with the secondary icon image. Alternatively, a secondary icon image may be displayed in the second management area together with the primary icon image.

In the present invention, the related information is not particularly limited. For example, the related information is basic information when a viewer wants to perform a specific operation using the icon image information as a clue. May be included. That is, the related information is information associated with the icon image. For example, when the viewer wants to refer to information on a specific server, the information (URL or IP address) specifying the information is Hit. If you want to run a specific program,
The program name or the program itself may be used. Further, the related information does not necessarily have to be plural, and may be single. In the case where the related information of the icon image is single, the process corresponding to the single related information may be automatically performed immediately after the icon image is moved to the second management area. The related information is
For example, it is displayed in a menu format. The related information is mainly character information, but may be a mark, a symbol, an image, or the like.

In the present invention, specific examples of the information recording medium are not particularly limited, and include a CD-ROM, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a DVD, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a semiconductor disk (such as a RAM disk), Examples include an IC card memory and a magnetic tape.

In the present invention, the information display device includes:
There is no particular limitation, and specifically, a personal computer, a general-purpose computer, a digital television, a PDA (Pe
For example, a mobile terminal (including a mobile phone) such as a personal data assistance (RS) is exemplified.

[0032]

In the information recording medium, the information display device, the information providing device and the information providing system according to the present invention, the image information for displaying the icon image is not displayed in the first management area, but is not displayed in the first management area under a predetermined condition. It associates primary related information that can be displayed in the management area. Therefore, the user can see the icon image displayed in the first management area, and at a glance, grasp the contents of the information indicated by the icon image. When the user wants to know detailed information related to the icon image or wants to purchase a product (including a service) corresponding to the icon image, the icon image is moved to the second management area.
The first related information related to the icon image can be viewed, for example, in a menu format.

By selecting one of the primary related information displayed in the menu format, a process related to the icon image, for example, a home page on the Internet related to the icon image is displayed in the first management area. Or
The user can purchase a product or enjoy a service corresponding to the icon image. According to the present invention, basically, information can be searched and access to an information source can be performed based on an icon image, so that information search and access to an information source are extremely easy. In addition, by storing icon images that allow the type of information to be understood at a glance, for example, in a directory format, a tree format, or a tag format, information can be easily arranged and the information can be easily used.

In particular, in the present invention, when a code information acquisition menu is selected from the displayed primary related information or secondary and subsequent related information called by the primary related information, a predetermined information is selected. Let the computer perform the process, access the information providing server via communication means,
The code information is fetched from the information providing server, and the code information is output from the output unit. The output code information is displayed on paper as, for example, a barcode, or output and stored in a portable memory or a portable device having the memory. From the paper on which this barcode is displayed, or from the memory or mobile device that stores the code information,
At a store or other location, the code information is read using a bar code reader or a memory content reader. If the code information has a cash note character, it can be exchanged for a specific product or service using the code information.

Therefore, it is convenient for the customer to be able to enjoy shopping or service of the product without carrying money, and for the product or service provider, the customer comes to the store or the service providing place. With more opportunities, more demand can be stimulated. In addition, the provider of the product or service does not need to mail or deliver the gift certificate or service ticket to the customer.

In particular, in the present invention, by including code information in a secondary icon image (for example, an icon image indicating that a product has been purchased), it is necessary to transmit the code information separately from the secondary icon image. Is eliminated, and it becomes easy for the user to extract and output the code information from the secondary icon image.

[0037]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on embodiments shown in the drawings. 1. Overall Description of System As shown in FIG.
It has a plurality of client terminals 2 and 3 and a plurality of information providing servers 4A, 4B, 4C and 5 which are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a network 6. In the present invention, the communication means for the network 6 is not particularly limited, and may be a telephone line, a dedicated line, radio waves, optical communication, or a combination thereof. explain.

The client-side terminals 2 and 3 are not particularly limited in the present invention, and may be a digital television, a PDA, or the like. In the present embodiment, the client terminals 2 and 3 will be described as being personal computers. Since the client terminals 2 and 3 have the same configuration, in the following description, the client terminal 2 will be described, and the description of the client terminal 3 will be omitted.

Each of the servers 4A, 4B, 4C, 5 is composed of, for example, a general-purpose computer. The computer includes at least a CPU or MPU, a memory such as a RAM or a ROM, a storage device such as a hard disk, a communication interface such as a modem or a terminal adapter,
It has a display device such as T or LCD, and an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard.

The storage device and / or memory of the client-side computer have at least an operating system (OS), HTTP browsing software (Web browser, etc.), mail transmission / reception software, etc. in order to enable communication over the network 6. The program is stored. The storage device and / or the memory of the server-side computer store at least an OS and a program such as HTTP server software so that the network 6 can provide and communicate content information.

In the present embodiment, the information providing server 4A
The information providing server 5 is a server that mainly provides information on the first management area of the present invention, and the information providing server 5 is a second management area program (hereinafter, also referred to as an IP3W program) of the present invention.
Is a server that mainly provides. Information providing server 4B
Is a server that provides more detailed secondary data of various data related to the primary data provided from the information providing server 4A. The primary data includes introductory data for each company. If there is a detailed second
There are multiple servers that provide the next data. The information providing server 4C is a server that provides other icons such as a purchase confirmation icon image and a purchased icon image, and also provides an order details input column data sheet, code information, and the like.

In the present invention, these servers 4A, 4
B, 4C, and 5 may be completely different servers, or may be the same server. Generally, the server 5 and the server 4A,
Although it is expected that the servers 4B and 4C are different servers, the servers 4A, 4B and 4C, especially the servers 4B and 4C
Is not unnatural even with the same server.

The information providing servers 4A, 4B, 4C and
In the present embodiment, the information providing server 4A has a primary data providing unit 4a as shown in FIG. The information providing server 4B has a secondary data providing unit 4b. The information providing server 4C includes another icon providing unit 4c.
1. Order details input column providing means 4c2, customer input completed order details data storage means 4c3, code information providing means 4c4,
It has order confirmation means 4c5 and delivery procedure execution means 4c6.

The primary data providing means 4a is for providing content information as displayed in the first management area 12a of the screen 30a of the client-side display device shown in FIG. 5, for example. In the present embodiment, the content information provided from the primary data providing means 4a of the information providing server 4A includes at least one or more primary icon images 100 to 104 and character information 1 as shown in FIG.
10 are included.

The primary icon images 100 to 104 are the same as the secondary and subsequent icon images described later, but are images showing the contents of the information to be provided, so that the contents of the information can be grasped at a glance. Has become.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, a site screen is displayed inside the first management area 12a so that shopping at a convenience store, department store or other store can be performed on the Internet. In this example, five types of products are displayed as images (letters and symbols are also acceptable) A to E
Icon images 100 to 104 are displayed. Note that the number of icon images 100 to 104 is not limited to five, and more or less icon images may be displayed.

In the present embodiment, the primary and secondary icon images 100 to 104 are similar to the secondary and subsequent icon images described later, but the image information includes related information. However, in the first management area 12a shown in FIG. 5, the related information is not displayed, and only the icon image in the image information is displayed.

The method for including the related information in the image information is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment,
For example, this is performed as follows. FIG. 3 shows an example of a format of image information in which related information is embedded. here,
The image information exemplifies a GIF format image. The format does not have to be the GIF format, but may be the JPG format or the PCX format.

As shown in FIG. 3, the start section 301 is a field provided for identifying that this information is GIF format image information, and is assigned a character string “GIF” and its version. It is a thing.

The color arrangement table image data 303 is image data in which pixels are arranged in order from left to right and from top to bottom. Here, in the case of GIF, encoding is performed using the LZW algorithm of a variable length code.

The comment extension unit 305 includes text information that does not become graphic information in the GIF data stream. This can include graphics, annotations relating to the names of producers and descriptions, or anything else that is not control or graphic data.

The end unit 306 indicates that this data stream has ended, and means that no other parameter information or the like follows.

The start part 301 and the color scheme table image data 303
The information 302 other than the above information is included in the area 302 and the area 304 between the color scheme table image data 303 and the annotation extension unit 305. As an example, information including parameters defining a region of the display device necessary for an image to be drawn, such as a screen width, a screen height, and a color resolution, is assigned.

The related information 307 is stored in the comment extension unit 305.
Are arranged as they are or after being subjected to a process such as encryption, and are combined as one piece of image information. As a result, the image information as a data stream can include related information therein. Although all of the description has been made in the GIF format, an image format of another format may be recorded in an area separated from the image information as described above.

Next, an embedding format in image information according to another example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows another format example of image information in which related information is embedded. Here, the image information is an image in the GIF format as an example. Also in this example, the format does not have to be the GIF format, but may be the JPG format or the PCX format.

The start section 401 is a field provided to identify that the information is image information in the GIF format, as described above, and is assigned a character string “GIF” and its version. is there.

In the color scheme table image data 403, pixels are arranged image data arranged in order from left to right and from top to bottom. Here, the image information 407 and the related information 408 are written in a watermark format. In this way, the related information is visually invisible as it is, and the image information is mixed 409 so that it can be visually recognized as it is. Here, the information thus mixed 409 is encoded using the LZW algorithm of a variable length code.

The comment extension unit 405 includes text information that does not become graphic information in the GIF data stream. Although this field is not particularly required in this example, the information provider can freely use it if necessary.

The end unit 406 indicates that this data stream has ended, and means that other parameter information or the like does not follow. In addition,
The middle portions 402 and 404 in the data stream shown in FIG. 4 correspond to the middle portions 302 and 304 shown in FIG.

In this image example as well, all the processing was performed in the GIF format. However, the image format of another format may be recorded in an area separated from the image information.

As described above, the icon image information includes the related information, and the content information including a plurality of the image information is transmitted from the primary data providing means 4a of the information providing server 4A shown in FIG. It is assumed that the data is transmitted to the terminal device 2. In practice, the client terminal 2 accesses the content information providing server 4A via the network 6, and from there, the first terminal shown in FIG.
The content information in the management area 12a is obtained.

Since the terminal 2 has a commercially available browser capable of displaying the first management area 12a, as shown in FIG.
A plurality of icon images 100 to 104 are displayed inside the first management area 12a on the screen 30a. In this example, the first management area 12a is a communication window displayed by a browser such as Internet Explorer. An ordinary browser uses the icon image 10 shown in FIG.
It does not have a function to display related information included in each of 0 to 104.

Information providing server 5, client terminal
2, 3 and IP3W In order to set the IP3W program for displaying the related information contained in each of the icon images 100 to 104 shown in FIG. 5 in its own client terminal 2, the IP3W program is installed. CD-RO
An information recording medium such as M may be obtained and installed. Alternatively, an IP3W program may be downloaded by connecting to the information providing server 5 shown in FIG. 1, which is a source of the IP3W program, via the network 6. The information providing server 5 may manage customer information of clients who want to download the IP3W program.

As shown in FIG. 5, the IP3W program is displayed on the screen 30a of the client-side computer on the Web screen.
b In addition to the first management area 12a such as a browser window, a second management area (also referred to as "IP3W")
This is a program for displaying 50a and performing predetermined processing in relation to the area 50a.

Next, the client computer after downloading the IP3W program, or the client computer after installing the IP3 program from an information recording medium such as a distributed CD-ROM, or a dedicated computer corresponding to the IP3 program. The configuration of the client-side computer having the logic circuit will be described mainly with reference to FIG. The details of the IP3 program will be apparent from the configuration shown in FIG. 2 and the following description, and it is understood that the program can be executed on a computer regardless of the type of the OS or other software and hardware.

As shown in FIG. 2, the client-side terminal 2 comprises a first management area control means 10, a second management area control means 50, a communication interface 20, a display interface 30, an input interface 40, An output interface 80. The first management area control means 10 and the second management area control means 50 include a memory and a storage device storing various programs (including an OS) and the like, and a CPU and an MP for executing the programs.
U and other processing devices.

The communication interface 20 is composed of, for example, a modem or a terminal adapter, and the first management area control means 10 and / or the second management area control means 50
And the network 6 shown in FIG. When the terminal device 2 is configured by a PDA or the like, the communication interface 20 may be configured by an antenna or the like.

The display interface 30 includes the first management area control means 10 and / or the second management area control means 5
0 and a connection unit for connecting a display device such as a CRT or an LCD. This connecting portion may be a contact type connecting portion for connecting electric wiring, optical fiber, etc.,
A non-contact type connection unit that transmits and receives signals via electromagnetic waves such as radio waves and infrared rays may be used. FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen of the display device.

The input interface 40 includes the first management area control means 10 and / or the second management area control means 5
0 is a connection unit for connecting an input device such as a mouse, a keyboard, a dial, a handle, a stick, and a touch panel. This connecting portion may be a contact type connecting portion for connecting electric wiring, optical fiber, etc.,
A non-contact type connection unit that transmits and receives signals via electromagnetic waves such as radio waves and infrared rays may be used.

The output interface 80 is connected to the first management area control means 10 and / or the second management area control means 5
0 is a connection unit for connecting an output device such as a printer, a data output device to a portable memory such as a memory stick drive, or a data output device to a portable device such as a mobile phone. This connecting portion may be a contact type connecting portion for connecting electric wiring, optical fiber, etc.,
A non-contact type connection unit that transmits and receives signals via electromagnetic waves such as radio waves and infrared rays may be used.

The first management area control means 10 includes information communication control means (including the first management area creation means of the present invention) 12 and
And a content information storage unit 15.

The information communication control means 12 includes a program for performing Internet communication via the network 6 shown in FIG. 1, such as an Internet Explorer or a Netscape Navigator, and a memory and / or a storage in which the program is stored. It includes a device and a CPU or MPU that executes the program.

The content information storage section 15 is a section capable of storing content information obtained by the information communication control means (Web browser or the like) 12 via the communication interface 20 and the network 6, and includes a memory and / or a storage device. It consists of. In this embodiment,
In the content stored in the content information storage unit 15, the icon images 100 to 104 shown in FIG.
Is included.

An example in which one of the content information stored in the content information storage section 15 is displayed on the screen of the display device is shown as content information in the first management area 12a shown in FIG. The content information shown in FIG. 5 is transmitted from the information providing server 4A shown in FIG. 1 via the network 6, and the icon images 100 to 104 corresponding to the product list are displayed inside the first management area 12a. is there.

Detailed Configuration of IP3W As described above, the second management area control unit 50 shown in FIG.
May not exist before the IP3W program is supplied to the client terminal 2.
In such a case, the IP3W program may be installed on the client terminal 2. As a method therefor, there are a method of installing from a program stored in a removable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, and a method of downloading from the IP3W program providing server 5 shown in FIG. 1, for example.

The download of the IP3W program is performed from the information providing server 5 shown in FIG. Details of the IP3W program will be apparent from the block diagram shown in FIG. 2 and the following description. In the following description, it is assumed that the IP3W program has already been installed in the computer of the client terminal 2.

The second management area control means 50 comprises a storage device and / or memory capable of storing the IP3W program and other information, and a CPU and / or an MPU for executing the IP3W program. In the present embodiment, the second management area control unit 50 has an IP3W program detection unit 52.

The IP3W program detecting means 52 detects whether an IP3W program or a logic circuit corresponding to the IP3W program already exists in a storage device and / or memory of a computer to be installed or downloaded. Also, this means 52 is used for IP3
If the W program is already installed on the computer, the user is notified that the program has been installed. At the same time or separately, the process moves to the second management area creating means (IP3W creating means) 54, executes the already existing IP3W program, and displays at least the second management area 50a shown in FIG. 5 on the screen 30a. I do. This means 52 may determine whether the IP3W program already existing in the computer is the latest version.

The IP3W creation means 54 shown in FIG.
In order to display the second management area 50a shown on the screen 30a on the screen 30a, a control signal is sent to the image display control means 72 to control the display of the screen 30a via the display interface 30.

The icon movement determining means 56 shown in FIG.
At least one of the icon images 100 to 104 shown in FIG. 5 is changed from the first management area 12a to the second management area 50a.
It has a function of determining whether or not an icon move instruction to move to the icon has been input. The determination as to whether or not the icon movement command has been made is made by, for example, using the pointer 130 corresponding to the mouse on the screen 30a to move any of the icon images 103 from the first management area 12a to the second management area 50.
The determination is made based on whether or not the drag-and-drop operation has been performed on a.

The first management area 12a to the second management area 50
When an icon move command to move the selected icon image 103 is issued to a, the first management area 1
The same icon image as the icon image 103 displayed inside 2a is displayed inside the second management area 50a.

Any one of the icon images 103 in the first management area is moved from the first management area 12a to the second management area 50a.
By moving to, the related information included in the icon image 103 can be displayed.

[0103] The icon related to the selected icon image 103 is
In order to know more detailed related information only by the management control of the first management area 12a, conventionally, for example, it is necessary to carefully read a long sentence (including unnecessary information) in the content, and is trying to obtain it. It took time to search and retrieve information. Alternatively, conventionally, a button for jumping to a homepage of the content related to the icon image 103 may be pressed or an address may be input. However, even in this case, in order to search for information related only to the icon image 103 after moving to the target homepage, a large number of sentences must be read, and searching for the information to be obtained is complicated. Met.

In the present embodiment, only the selected icon image 103 shown in FIG. 5 is moved from the first management area 12a to the second management area 50a. Is very easy.

As shown in FIG. 2, the related information extracting means 60, which performs processing based on the data from the icon movement detecting means 56, outputs the icon image selected and displayed inside the second management area 50a shown in FIG. The related information included in the image information 103 is extracted. For extracting the related information, for example, the format of the data stream of the target icon image is analyzed, and the related information 307 or 408 included in the format shown in FIG. 3 or 4 is extracted from the image data stream.

The related information extracted by the extracting means 60 is stored in the related information storage means 62 shown in FIG. 2, and the contents are displayed on the screen under a predetermined condition. On the other hand, the icon image information detected by the movement detecting means 56 is stored in the icon image storing means 64 based on an input signal from the detecting means 56 or the extracting means 60. The icon image stored in the storage unit 64 is displayed inside the second management area 50a on the screen 30a shown in FIG. 5 based on the functions of the image display control unit 72 and the display interface 30.

Information 307 related to the icon image 103 selectively displayed in the second management area 50a of the screen 30a (the same applies to icon images 103a and 103b described later).
(May be 407, the same applies hereinafter),
As shown in FIG. 6, the pointer 130 of the mouse 40a is
The user may position the icon at any position of the icon image 103 and right-click the mouse 40a. The display of the related information 307 is performed by the image display control unit 72 shown in FIG. 2 detecting the right click of the mouse, reading out the related information from the related information storage unit 62, controlling the display interface 30,
This is done by sending data to the display device.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the related information 307 is displayed in a menu format. Related information 3
The menu 07 is not particularly limited, and includes, for example, a more detailed request processing menu for secondary related information. In the present embodiment, the menu includes a purchase application menu.

The purchase application menu is the first menu shown in FIG.
This is a menu for applying for purchase of an icon image 103 selected from among icon images (primary icon images) 100 to 104 obtained by imaging a product displayed in the management area 12a.

The icon image 103 may include only the purchase application menu as the related information, or may include other related information. For example, a menu for displaying the detailed content of the product (including the service) displayed in the icon image 103 as the second related information, and a second menu indicating the detailed content of the product (including the service) displayed in the icon image 103 Second and subsequent icon images
This is a menu to be displayed in the management area 50a.

By moving the pointer 130 shown in FIG.
When the mouse 40a is left-clicked and a more detailed secondary related information request processing menu (for example, menu 1) is selected, the related information specifying detecting means 66 shown in FIG. 68 is operated.

The detailed related information request means 68 controls the communication interface 20 via the information communication control means 12 or directly, and transmits the information via the network 6 shown in FIG.
The same or different information providing server 4 as the information providing server 4A
B from the secondary data providing means 4b of FIG.
Get the next related information. The acquired detailed secondary related information is stored in the related information storage unit 62 and displayed near the corresponding menu in the related information 307 by an operation such as right-clicking the mouse 40a shown in FIG. Is done.

Although the detailed secondary related information is not particularly limited, it is assumed that the selected menu in the primary related information 307 is, for example, “detailed description of the product” corresponding to the icon image 103. The related information storage means 62 shown in FIG.
And displayed on the screen in the same manner as described above. If you want to obtain more detailed third and subsequent related information related to a specific menu in the second related information,
What is necessary is just to process similarly to the case where the secondary related information was acquired.

If the selected menu in the primary related information 307 is a menu requesting a partially enlarged view of the product corresponding to the icon image 103, for example,
The separate icon requesting means 58 shown in FIG. 2 is activated, and the information providing server 4C
To access. In the information providing server 4C, the different icon providing means 4c1 transmits another icon image related to the icon image 103 but to the client terminal 2.
The transmitted icon image includes an icon image 103
It is preferable that related information is included as in the case of the above. From this related information, another related icon can be called up, or another related information menu may be included. The other icon image is transmitted to the related information extracting unit 60, the icon image storage unit 64, the image display control unit 72, and the display interface 30 shown in FIG. It is displayed inside the area 50a. This different icon image may be replaced with the icon image 103 inside the second management area 50a, or may be displayed separately.

The user selects the purchase application menu in the primary or secondary related information 307 shown in FIG.
0a; left click processing; hereinafter the same), the detailed related information requesting means 68 is operated, and the information providing server 4C is accessed and the order details input column providing means 4c2 is accessed in the same manner as described above. And fetch the order sheet data sheet information. However, the order entry field data sheet is stored in the information communication control unit 1 of the first management area control unit 10.
2 and the order entry field data sheet screen is displayed inside the first management area 12a as shown in FIG.

The order input field data sheet screen displays input fields 140 for inputting the number of orders, personal name, password, etc., and an order button 142. After inputting the corresponding data in these input fields 140, the application button 14
The client-side terminal 2 accesses the information providing server 4C via the network 6 by, for example, left-clicking the pointer 2 on the pointer 130 of the mouse 40a.

In the information providing server 4C, the inputted order detail data for each customer is stored in the input order detail data storage means 4c3 for each customer. Order confirmation means 4c5
Will use the stored data to confirm with the customer
The confirmation screen shown in FIG. 7 is transmitted to the client terminal 2. The confirmation screen data is transmitted by the information communication control means 12 of the first management area control means 10 shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), it is displayed inside the first management area 12a.

[0098] This confirmation screen includes a purchase confirmation icon image (primary icon image) 103a. The purchase confirmation icon image 103a may be the same icon image as the icon image 103 shown in FIG. 6, but is preferably an image related to the icon image 103 but different.
This is because the icon image for confirmation can be recognized at a glance.

As shown in FIG. 7, the purchase confirmation icon image 103a is moved into the second management area 50a by using the above-described drag and drop operation using the mouse pointer 130. As shown in FIG. 8, the purchase confirmation icon image 103a includes related information 307 in a menu format. Related information 3 of the menu format
07 includes a code information acquisition menu. By selecting this code information acquisition menu, the code information acquisition unit 150 shown in FIG. 2 is activated, and accesses the information providing server 4C in the same manner as the detailed related information request unit 68 or the separate icon request unit 58.

Upon receiving the code information request signal, the information providing server 4C detects that the confirmation processing on the customer side has been completed, and based on the request signal, stores the input order detail data storage means for each customer. The product order data of the customer is taken out from 4c3, and the code information providing means 4c4 creates code information corresponding to the data. The produced code information is included in the purchased icon image (secondary icon image) 103b shown in FIG. 8 corresponding to the item order data together with other related information by the same method as the other icon images. Let The purchased icon image 103b is transmitted from another icon providing unit 4c1 of the information providing server 4C shown in FIG.
8 is transmitted.

At the same time, or before or after that, the delivery procedure execution means of the information providing server 4C uses the delivery procedure execution means for delivering the product ordered from the customer to a store such as a convenience store requested by the customer. Perform the procedure. The delivery procedure execution means 4c6 transmits data corresponding to the order data from the customer to the barcode reader control means or the memory stick information reading means at the corresponding store. The data is used as data for confirming that the customer has come to receive the product.

The purchased icon image 103b acquired by the different icon requesting means 58 is displayed inside the second management area 50a as shown in FIG. 8, similarly to the other icon images. The purchased icon image 103b may be the same as the purchase confirmation icon image 103a, but is preferably a related but different image (may include characters and symbols). The purchased icon image 103b includes, as the related information 307a, a menu for converting the code information into barcode information, sending the barcode information to the printer via the output interface 80, and printing the barcode on paper. The menu also includes a menu in which the code information is sent as barcode information to the Memory Stick drive via the output interface 80 and the code information is stored in the Memory Stick. Further, a menu for confirming the delivery status of the product may be included. By selecting a menu for confirming the delivery status of a product, a secondary or subsequent icon image such as an icon image displaying a delivery image indicating that delivery is currently being performed may be obtained.

In the present embodiment, the code information has a character-like character that can be exchanged for a product ordered from a customer. Therefore, the customer brings the barcode output from the printer to a store such as a convenience store,
By having the barcode read by the barcode reader at the store, the barcode can be exchanged for the ordered product. Alternatively, the memory stick storing the code information can be brought to the store, and the code information can be read by a memory stick reader at the store, and can be exchanged for the ordered product. The same applies when the product is a service.

After the corresponding code information has been used once, a bar code reader or a memory stick reader at the store is used to prevent the code information from being used again.
The information may be exchanged with the information providing server 4C shown in FIG. 1 to make the system unusable.

According to the system of the present embodiment, it is convenient for a customer to be able to enjoy shopping for a product or enjoying a service without carrying money. Since the opportunity to visit a store or a service providing place is increased, further demand can be stimulated. In addition, the provider of the product or service does not need to mail or deliver the gift certificate or service ticket to the customer.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the code information is included in the product purchased icon image 103b indicating that the product has been purchased, so that the transmission of the code information can be performed by the icon image 10b.
It is not necessary to send the code information separately from 3b, and the user can easily extract and output the code information from the purchased icon image 103b.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, FIG.
Although the description has been made with the mind that the client terminals 2 and 3 shown in FIG. 1 are mainly computers such as personal computers, the configuration shown in FIG. 2 is realized even when these terminals are PDAs or digital televisions. It is possible to implement the present invention. In that case, an input device other than a mouse may be employed.

When the data amount of the secondary and subsequent related information is small, the primary data providing means is not requested to the information providing server 4B shown in FIG. 1 each time. The icon image 103 provided from 4a may be included by the method shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. In that case, the operation of the detailed related information requesting means 68 shown in FIG. 2 becomes unnecessary.

Further, in the present invention, it is not necessary to have all the components shown in FIG. 2, but it is sufficient to have the components shown in FIG. 2 corresponding to the components described in each claim.

[0110]

As described above, according to the present invention, when information is transmitted to each other via communication means such as a telephone line, a dedicated line, a radio wave, or an optical communication, the information is transmitted to an information supply source. An information recording medium and an information display device that are beneficial to both a purchaser of goods and a provider of goods when, for example, purchasing goods using a new icon image that is easy to access, search and organize information. , An information providing apparatus and an information providing system can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a client-side terminal according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of embedding related information in image information.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing another example of embedding related information in image information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of the client terminal.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a method of operating a mouse in the second management area shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a screen obtained after the order details entry screen shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a method of operating a mouse in the second management area shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

2, 3 ... client side terminal 4A, 4B, 4C, 5 ... information providing server 4a ... primary data providing means 4b ... secondary data providing means 4c1 ... separate icon providing means 4c2 ... order details input column providing means 4c3 ... Order details data storage means 4c4 ... code information providing means 4c5 ... delivery procedure execution means 6 ... network (communication means) 10 ... first management area control means 12 ... information communication control means (first management area creation) Means) 12a ... first management area 20 ... communication interface 30 ... display interface 30a ... display screen 40 ... input interface 50 ... second management area control means 50a ... second management area 54 ... second management area creation means 56 ... icon movement Judging means 58 ... Different icon requesting means 60 ... Related information extracting means 62 ... Related Information storage means 64 ... Icon image storage means 66 ... Related information identification detection means 68 ... Detailed related information request means 72 ... Image display control means 80 ... Output interface (part of output means) 100-104 ... Icon image (primary) Icon image) 103a Purchase confirmation icon image 103b Purchased icon image (secondary icon image of 103a) 140 Input field 142 Order button 150 Code information acquisition means 307, 307a, 407 Related information

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 324 G06F 17/60 324 3/00 655 3/00 655B 657 657A G06K 7/00 G06K 7 / 00 U F term (reference) 5B049 AA01 BB11 CC02 CC05 CC08 CC16 DD02 DD04 EE23 FF02 FF03 FF04 GG01 GG04 GG07 5B072 BB00 CC24 5E501 AA02 AA13 AB21 AC33 BA05 CA02 CB09 CC03 EA07 EA11 EB01 FA05 FA04

Claims (28)

[Claims] 1. A step of creating a new second management area other than the first management area on a display screen, and a step of transferring a primary icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area. Judging whether or not an icon move instruction to move is input; and when the icon move instruction is issued, the icon related to the primary icon image is not displayed in the first management area. Extracting primary related information; displaying the primary icon image in which the icon movement instruction has been issued in the second management area; and, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the primary related information. Displaying in association with the primary icon image displayed in the second management area; and displaying the primary related information or secondary and subsequent information derived from the primary related information. Related When the code information acquisition menu of the information is selected, causing the computer to perform a predetermined process, accessing the information providing server via the communication means, and taking in the code information from the information providing server; And a step of outputting information from an output unit. The information recording medium stores a second management area program for causing a computer to execute the step. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the code information is bar code information, and the bar code information includes cash voucher information that can be exchanged for a specific product at a predetermined location. 2. The information recording medium according to 1. 3. The information recording medium according to claim 2, wherein said output means is a printer for printing a barcode. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the code information acquisition menu is selected, a secondary icon image associated with the primary icon image is displayed in the second management area. The information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The information recording medium according to claim 4, wherein the code information is included in the secondary icon image. 6. The information recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the secondary icon image includes an output menu of the code information. 7. The information recording medium according to claim 4, wherein the secondary icon image indicates that a product has been purchased. 8. When the primary related information or the secondary related information derived from the primary related information includes a product purchase application menu, and the product purchase application menu is selected. The information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an order entry field data sheet screen is displayed in the first management area. 9. When order detail data is input to the order entry field data sheet screen and the order detail data is transmitted to the information providing server, order detail confirmation data is transmitted from the information providing server and the order confirmation data is transmitted. The information recording medium according to claim 8, wherein the information recording medium includes a purchase confirmation icon image. 10. The information recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the purchase confirmation icon image includes the code information acquisition menu. 11. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the image information for displaying the icon image includes at least the first related information. 12. A first management area creating means for displaying a first management area on a display screen, and a second management area creating means for displaying a second management area different from the first management area on the display screen. Means for judging whether or not an icon move command to move the primary icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area has been input; and Extracting means for extracting primary related information that is related to the primary icon image but not displayed in the first management area when the primary icon image has been generated; An icon display means for displaying an image in the second management area; and displaying, under a predetermined condition, the primary related information in relation to the primary icon image displayed in the second management area. Primary relevant information display And when a code information acquisition menu is selected from among the displayed primary related information or secondary and subsequent related information called by the primary related information, a predetermined process is performed by a computer. An information display, comprising: a code information acquiring unit that accesses an information providing server via a communication unit and captures code information from the information providing server; and an output unit that outputs the code information acquired by the code information acquiring unit. apparatus. 13. The code information is bar code information, and the bar code information includes, at a predetermined location,
13. The information display device according to claim 12, wherein the information display device includes voucher-like information that can be exchanged for a specific product. 14. The information display device according to claim 13, wherein said output means is a printer for printing a barcode. 15. A secondary icon image associated with the primary icon image is displayed in the second management area when the code information acquisition menu is selected. 15. The information display device according to any one of 12 to 14. 16. The information display device according to claim 15, wherein the secondary icon image includes the code information. 17. The information display device according to claim 16, wherein the secondary icon image includes an output menu of the code information. 18. The information display device according to claim 17, wherein the secondary icon image indicates that a product has been purchased. 19. The primary related information or secondary related information derived from the primary related information includes:
19. A product purchase application menu is included, and when the product purchase application menu is selected, an order entry field data sheet screen is displayed in the first management area. The information display device according to any one of the above. 20. When the order detail data is input to the order entry field data sheet screen and the order detail data is transmitted to the information providing server, order detail confirmation data is transmitted from the information providing server, and the order confirmation data is transmitted. 20 includes a purchase confirmation icon image.
An information display device according to item 1. 21. The information display device according to claim 20, wherein the purchase confirmation icon image includes the code information acquisition menu. 22. The information display device according to claim 12, wherein image information for displaying the icon image includes at least the first related information. 23. On the display screen, in addition to the first management area,
Creating a new second management area; and determining whether an icon move command to move the primary icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area has been input. Extracting the primary related information that is related to the primary icon image but is not displayed in the first management area when the icon move command is issued; Displaying the displayed primary icon image in the second management area; and, under a predetermined condition, displaying the primary related information on the primary icon displayed in the second management area. Displaying in association with an image; and selecting a code information acquisition menu among the displayed primary related information or secondary and subsequent related information derived from the primary related information. In this case, the steps of causing the computer to perform predetermined processing, accessing the information providing server via the communication means, taking in the code information from the information providing server, and outputting the code information from the output means are performed by the computer. An information providing apparatus for providing a second management area program to be executed by a user via a communication unit under a predetermined condition. 24. The information providing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the predetermined condition is a case where a request signal is input from the client terminal to the information providing apparatus via the communication unit. 25. The code information is bar code information, and the bar code information includes, at a predetermined location,
25. The information providing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the information providing apparatus includes voucher information that can be exchanged for a specific product. 26. A primary data providing means for providing primary data including primary icon image information including primary related information to a client terminal via a communication means in accordance with a predetermined condition. In the client terminal, the primary related image information is called by the primary related information included in the secondary icon image information or the secondary related icon image information called from the primary icon image information or the primary related image information. When the code information acquisition menu is selected from the related information of the second or subsequent order, the code information including the voucher information that can be exchanged for a specific product at a predetermined place is transmitted to the client terminal. Code information providing means to be transmitted to
An information providing system having: 27. Primary data providing means for providing primary data including primary icon image information including primary related information to a client terminal via communication means in accordance with a predetermined condition. In the client terminal, the primary related image information is called by the primary related information included in the secondary icon image information or the secondary related icon image information called from the primary icon image information or the primary related image information. When a purchase application menu is selected from the second and subsequent related information to be received and an application signal relating to the purchase application menu is received, information on an input field for application conditions is transmitted to the client side terminal. Column providing means; condition storage means for storing purchase application conditions entered at the client-side terminal; Order confirmation means for transmitting the application condition confirmation data stored in the storage means to the client terminal for confirmation, and a code information acquisition menu included in the purchase confirmation icon image in the confirmation data is selected. And a code information providing means for transmitting specific code information to the client terminal. 28. The client terminal according to claim 26, wherein the code information provided by the code information providing means is transmitted to the client terminal in a state where the code information is included in the second and subsequent icon image information. 28. The information providing system according to 27.